What is better: a gathering of knowledge, or the Dhuha prayer and reciting the Qur'an?

The questioner : Which is better, O Shaykh: the Dhuha prayer and reciting the Qur'an, or attending a gathering of dhikr?

The Shaykh : Dhikr, not knowledge?

The questioner : Or a gathering of knowledge.

The Shaykh : No, a gathering of knowledge is better, better than the Dhuha prayer and reciting the Qur'an. As for reciting the Qur'an, because he can make it up at another time, whether in the night or the day. As for the Dhuha prayer, seeking knowledge is better than all voluntary prayers. Take all the voluntary prayers now: seeking knowledge is better than them, meaning: better than the Dhuha prayer, better than Tahajjud, and better than all voluntary prayers. For this reason, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) would stay up at night memorizing hadiths and not perform Tahajjud. So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: , and he did not say: "Leave knowledge and perform Tahajjud." This is a principle that we should understand. Accordingly, a student of knowledge in his discussion, review, memorization, and retention is better than the one who stands in prayer and fasts. Even if he said, for example: "I love to fast three days every month, but when I fast, it hinders me from seeking knowledge through fatigue and anxiety," we would say: Do not fast, as long as it affects you in seeking knowledge, for seeking knowledge is better.